Space Planes

Currently, NASA uses Space Shuttles, or Orbiters, to fly a crew into space. These Space Shuttles have proven to be successful, although they have been becoming a burden to NASA. The Space Shuttle is not economical, reusable, or even safe (Bentley 27). Almost a quarter of NASA’s budget goes into the Shuttle (one Shuttle flight is estimated to cost 350 million dollars) and it is only partially recoverable (Bentley 24). The External Tank required by the Shuttle’s main engine cannot be recovered and the Two Solid Rocket Boosters can be reused about 20 times (Verger 140). Space Shuttles Columbia and Challenger are both proof that the Space Shuttle can have it major flaws (Bentley 96). The crews of these Shuttles gave their lives for mankind’s quest for new knowledge.

An alternative to the Space Shuttle is a combination of an enhanced airplane and Space Shuttle called a space plane. These space planes are already being manufactured and tested by various organizations (Bentley 24). Not only will they be capable of transporting scientists and astronauts into space but also tourists, thus creating space tourism. The space tourists will solve the budget problems of government agencies and private companies by simply engaging in space tourism. Matthew A. Bentley states that “Tourism is already a multi-billion dollar industry on Earth, and tourism in space will be no different.” Spaceships so far have not been either economical or affordable. This is because unlike airplanes, spaceships have neither been perfected nor produced in large numbers (Bentley 30). Space tourism is about to change that with more and more people demanding space access. Ultimately this demand will drive down costs and improve the quality of space vehicles (Bentley 31). The economical benefits of the space plane will force space agencies to completely retire the Space Shuttle. In addition to the cost effectiveness is its reusability and safety. The space planes of the future will not launch from ballistic missiles as they do now, making them much safer than the conventional Space Shuttle. Also, more advanced space planes will be capable of taking off on their own power, much like the very safe airplanes that people use every day. Gone will be the days of throwing away expensive rockets used to launch Space Shuttles into orbit.

Space planes are not science fiction. The Space Shuttles used today can be considered space planes but they have a long way to go before they can be called advanced space planes. It took engineers forty-four years to develop the 700-mph X-1, the first manned vehicle to break the sound barrier, from when the Wright brothers invented the first airplane (Bentley 81). To say that in a few years from now people will be flying to and from space on a regularly basis, is a definite possibility.

Works Cited:

Bentley, Matthew A. Spaceplanes: From Airport to Spaceport. New York: Springer, 2009.

Verger, Fernand, et al. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Space: Missions, Applications and Exploration. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Photo Credit:

"Space Plane"

http://a52.g.akamaitech.net/f/52/827/1d/www.space.com/images/090311-spaceplane-fly-02.jpg

Establishing a Presence in Space

To begin with, to lead a successful long term space exploration mission it is crucial to establish a base of operations in space. At this time, the International Space Station (ISS) is orbiting around Earth as a research facility that provides an environment for experiments that are not possible on Earth. The International Space Station is still a work in progress. The project of the ISS first began in January 25, 1984 when U.S. President Ronald Regan announced that NASA would develop a permanently manned space station and invite other countries to work on it (Walker). Since then, several government organizations from around the world including NASA, Russian Federal Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, European Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency have been contributing to its growth (“International Space Station” Astronomy & Space). These agencies are constantly working together in their research and also contribute by adding new modules of their own to the International Space Station. Most recently, in June of 2008, Japan with the help of the U.S. space shuttle Discovery was able to install a new research facility named Kibo on the International Space Station (“Japanese lab installed on space station”). Kibo, meaning “Hope” in Japanese, is the largest pressurized research facility in space (Larson).

With the addition of this new module, the space station takes one step further in its ability to conduct important research in space. With a well developed space station, extensive research can lead to new discoveries in science that will play a vital role in future space exploration missions. It also provides for opportunities on learning to how manage extended stays in space, which will be essential when concerning further space travel and exploration (“International Space Station”). Clearly the International Space Station has a long way to go before it resembles anything seen in Sci-Fi movies.

However, with the continued cooperation of government agencies and engineers around the world, this task is not a stretch of imagination but a possible reality in the future. In time the International Space Station can serve as more than just a place for science experiments, but possibly a waypoint for further space exploration than thought possible.

Works Cited:

"International Space Station." Astronomy & Space: From the Big Bang to the Big Crunch. Ed. Phillis Engelbert. Online. Detroit: U*X*L, 2007. Science Resource Center. Gale. 12 November 2009

"International Space Station." Science in Dispute. Ed. Neil Schlager. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Science Resource Center. Gale. 12 November 2009 http://ezp.tccd.edu:2055/servlet/SciRC?ste=1&docNum=CV2643510002

"Japanese lab installed on space station." Kibo at the International Space Station Nature, June 12, 2008 v453 i7197 p837(1). Science Resource Center. Gale. 12 November 2009

Larson, Chris. "Discovery Delivers the Goods." Today’s Science. Facts On File News Services, July 2008. Web. 5 Nov. 2009. .

Walker, Charles D. "International Space Station." Space Sciences. Ed. Pat Dasch. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. Science Resource Center. Gale. 12 November 2009 http://ezp.tccd.edu:2055/servlet/SciRC?ste=1&docNum=CV2643750166

Photo Credit:

“International Space Station”

http://ezp.tccd.edu:2085/stories/photos/sp007179.jpg

“Kibo”

http://ezp.tccd.edu:2085/stories/photos/sp007180.jpg

Is There a Place in Space for Mankind?

Space exploration is a topic that has been discussed and researched for decades now and will continue to be for centuries to come. While the average individual lives their life here on Earth, other brilliant minds are at work trying to learn exactly what dwells in outer space and if other life forms truly exist. These experts in their respective fields of science have to determine a number of factors when discussing space travel and exploration. As of now, mankind’s technology lacks the ability to travel and explore places in the universe that would be beneficial to the study of space exploration. However, future generations will continue to work together to build on old technology and achieve the goals of space exploration. The goals of future space exploration include three things: establish a base of operations in space, discover other life forms, and search for other habitable planets. To accomplish this, engineers and scientists must develop spacecraft and other equipment that will allow more exploration opportunities. New discoveries in outer space affect everyone in some way. Just when one thought that mankind had discovered everything in the world, space exploration will bring new discoveries and possibilities for human expansion in the future.

Photo Credit:

http://ezp.tccd.edu:2085/stories/photos/sp007182.jpg